Our 3 year old has recently been diagnosed with PDD. I am unemployed for six months now, and our mortgage company has begun forclosure proceedings. My wife cannot work since she takes our child to the doctor 3 times a week, and has to perform therapy with our daughter every two hours.
Our mortgage company has suggested that there is financial help available since our little one is dealing with Autism. We are running into dead ends going to our local Department of Human Services.
Is there help available? How do I find it? We have until January to save our house. We can't help our daughter if we're out on the street.
Can anyone point me in the right direction, please?
Have you applied for Social Security for your daughter? IF not then I would do so. Also obviously you are having a hard time finding a job in the field that you are normally in so I would suggest switching fields for a bit while still looking for work in the job you want. Even if it means taking a job in the food industry or whatever else may have a fast turn over rate for hiring.
Karrie
Karrie,
Thank you. I did not even think about Social Security. I have emailed them to see what they can do, if anything.
As to the unemployment situation, I have tried all fields here. No luck.
So sorry you're going through this...I learned some things unfortunately AFTER we lost our house last year for the same reasons:
1. Social security CAN take up to 6 months to be approved. They certainly aren't quick....but get that started as soon as you can...but again, there's no guarantee and I think it's less than 0/month, hardly enough for a mortgage payment...but helps none-the-less.
2. I understand struggling with DHS (I recently missed an appt. cuz my son was in the hospital, I've left 5 messages to reschedule, they never ret. the call, and now I've been denied for "Failure to keep appts" - what a bunch of worms.)
3. If you have communication with the mortgage company, a lot of times, they'll be able to either re-finance (do you have enough equity? - Call Ditech) OR they can sometimes take the payments that you've missed and tack them onto the BACK END of your loan, so that you're re-made current.
4. I know it's a tough decision...but you CAN sell your house at any time up to the day before scheduled foreclosure...if you have equity, and know you won't get back to being able to afford the monthly cost...sometimes it's "easier" to sell, get back what you've invested and start again somewhere with less rent/mortgage. The best thing about this is that it keeps the foreclosure off your credit report...and your ability to obtain other loans in the future will not be as difficult.
5. Contact your local village hall...sometimes they have housing assistance for local people going through hard times. (this is separate aside from DHS)
No guarantees here - I'm sorry...we're obviously in the same boat as you, and it sure is rough...but good luck to you and your family.
~Lesley
I also would like to thank all of you. It is very nice to hear that we are not the only family on this crazy ride called PDD. Everything that was sent is a huge help and with God's help we WILL get through this.
-Al's wife Lori
Hi I just saw this searching for a different thread... Maybe this site can assist you! Good Luck!
http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/financial.html
The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 11 of Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Finding a Diagnosis and Getting Help by Mitzi Waltz, copyright 1999 by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. For book orders/information, call (800) 998-9938. Permission is granted to print and distribute this excerpt for noncommercial use as long as the above source is included. The information in this article is meant to educate and should not be used as an alternative for professional medical care.
Most people dealing with PDDs have plenty of practice when it comes to squeezing a buck. Some, however, are hard put to find a dollar to squeeze. Parents with challenging children and adults with serious difficulties can have trouble securing gainful employment.
There are some programs available that may provide you or your family with direct financial support. The checks will be small, but with careful planning they may allow you to give your child the gift of a home-based intensive program or allow you time to develop a career that meets your needs.
**** THERES MORE THERE TO READ******
Oh my I feel sorry for you. No one should go through this It is hard enough when a child is having all the problems as our do but to lose your home is terrible. Change is hard on children like ours I wish i had answers for you but i don't but you are in our prayers
gmajudy and our grandson colton who hasd PDD-NOS
Thank you all for your kind words, advice and help.
Michelle, your post and the linked article was especially helpful as it gave me a general overview. Now I have a general feeing of the landscape.
After checking local law, etc I found out that we have 7 months before the foreclosure is finalized. Our mortgage company will allow me to set up a payment plan to catch up once I get a job.
An employment agency called me this afternoon for a Monday morning interview. No details given. Wish me luck.
May GOD be with you all, and with your children.
BIG HUGE GOOD LUCK TO YOU! That's great news!
Let us know how it goes
And glad the links helped